L'Dor VaDor: Teaching Our Children

(1) Moshe received the Torah from Sinai and transmitted it to Yehoshua, and Yehoshua to the Elders, and the Elders to the Prophets, and the Prophets transmitted it to the Men of the Great Assembly. They said three things: Be deliberate in judgment, raise up many disciples and make a fence for the Torah.

(2) Even as a person is obliged to instruct their children, so are they obliged to teach their children's children, for it is said: "But make them known to your children and your children's children" (Ibid. 4.9); and, not alone to their children and their children's children, but each and every scholar in Israel is commanded to instruct all who desire to be their disciples, even though they be not their children, for it is said: "And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children" (Ibid. 6.7.), which is traditionally interpreted to include one's disciples; for disciples, too, are called children, as it is said: "And the children of the prophets came forth" (2 Kings 2:3).